Transfer table for rectangular articles



P 1964 A. B. LARASON 3,150,547

TRANSFER TABLE FOR RECTANGULAR ARTICLES Filed Dec. 4, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 -llVVE/VTOR. ALLEN 8. LARASON Attorney Sept. 29, 1964 A. B. LARASON TRANSFER TABLE FOR RECTANGULAR ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1962 //v VEN ran. ALLEN B. LARASO/V M Attorney United States Patent 3,150,547 TRANSFER TABLE FOR RECTANGULAR ARTICLES Allen B. Larason, Yardley, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 242,299 10 Claims. (Cl. 89-48) This invention relates to an improved screw-type transfer table for handling elongated articles of rectangular cross section.

Although the invention is not thus limited, my transfer table is particularly suited for handling pipes of rectangular cross section as they cool after discharging from a hot mill. A conventional screw-type transfer table for handling pipes of circular cross section includes a plurality of power driven spaced-apart parallel upwardly sloping right and left hand screws. Hot pipes feed to the lower ends of the screws, which propel the pipes along upwardly sloping skids located between screws. It is necessary that the hot pipes rotate as they travel along the skids while cooling through the critical temperature to assure that they cool uniformly without warping. Round pipes of course roll along the skids and small pipes of square cross section may also rotate. Pipes of rectangular cross section whose sides are of unequal width tend to lie with one of their wider sides resting against the skids and slide therealong without rotating. Hence conventional cooling tables are not satisfactory for handling this type of rectangular pipes. Nevertheless it is apparent my invention may be used elsewhere for overcoming similar problems.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved screw-type transfer table which handles articles of rectangular cross section and tumbles or rotates the articles as they move along the table.

A further object is to provide an improved transfer table which accomplishes the foregoing purpose and yet can be constructed by a relatively simple modification of an existing transfer table designed for round articles.

A more specific object is to provide an improved transfer table in which some of the screws are replaced with tumbling devices for continuously turning articles of rectangular cross section from positions where they rest on their wider sides to positions where they rest on their narrower sides and thence on the succeeding wider sides.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, a preferred form of which is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partially diagrammatic top plan view of a portion of a transfer table constructed in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section on a larger scale on line II]I of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section on a larger scale on line IIIIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of the tumbling device embodied in my transfer table showing an initial step in turning an article from a position in which it rests on its wider side to a position in which it rests on its narrower side;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but showing an intermediate step;

FIGURE 6 is another similar view, but showing a final step;

FIGURE 7 is another similar view, but showing an initial step in turning the article the other way; and

FIGURE 8 is another similar view, but showing a final step in turning the latter way.

FIGURE 1 shows a portion of a screw-type transfer table which includes a plurality of spaced-apart parallel upwardly sloping right and left hand screws 10 and Ida and shafts 12, each fixed to one end of a different screw. The screws and shafts are journaled in suitable bearings, and the shafts are connected to a drive indicated schematically for turning screws 19 and 10a in opposite directions. A plurality of skids 13 are mounted on frame members 14 and extend parallel to the screws in the spaces therebetween. In the example of a transfer table for handling and cooling hot pipes, a series of driven conveyor rolls 15 and kickout rolls 16 are journaled above shafts 12. The conveyor rolls carry pipes P in single file from a hot mill (not shown). When the pipes reach the proper position, the kickout rolls throw them off the conveyor rolls to a downwardly sloping plate 17. The pipes roll or slide down this plate to the entry ends of the screws 10 and Mia, which pick up the pipes and propel them upwardly along the skids 13. At the upper ends of the screws and skids, the pipes discharge to any suitable receiving means (not shown). The structure thus far described is conventional and hence is not described in greater detail. Round pipes or small pipes of square cross section roll as they move along the skids and thus cool uniformly without warping.

In accordance with the present invention, when the table handles pipes of rectangular cross section, I replace two or more of the screws 10 or 10a with removable tumbling devices 26 and 20a. In the portion of the table shown in FIGURE 1, I have replaced two of the right hand screws 10. Normally I would also replace two left hand screws farther along the table, but the number and type of screws replaced is largely a matter of choice. I

also remove the skids immediately adjacent the screws.

which I replace. Each tumbling device 20 and 26a includes an elongated spindle 21 preferably of smaller diameter than the body portions of the screws and connected to the respective shafts 12 to be driven thereby. To support the spindles, I removably attach bearing frames 22 and 22a to the frame members 14. As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the bearing frame 22 includes a pair of spaced-apart opposed angle irons 23, a pair of transverse bars extending between angle irons, and braces 25 and 26, all rigidly fixed to one another. Each bar 24 has a pair of spaced-apart notches 27 in its upper edge, within which I mount rollers 28. The spindle 21 of the tumbling device 20 rests on these rollers. The bearing frame 22a is similar in construction, but reversed end-for-end, whereby its rollers are offset from the rollers of frame 22, as shown in FIGURE 1. Similar support means also can be utilized adjacent the discharge end of each tumbling device.

The tumbling device 20 includes a row of spaced-apart relatively large fins 31 rigidly fixed .to the circumference of its spindle 21, and a row of spaced-apart smaller fins 32 rigidly fixed to the circumference thereof diametrically opposite the large fins. over substantially the same length as the screws 10 and Both rows of fins extend a propel the pipes. I omit fins from the portions of the spindles which rest on the rollers 28. Hence the locations where fins are omitted on the two tumbling devices and 20a are offset from each other. Each large fin 31 is shaped as a quadrilateral, and has an edge 33 extending outwardly perpendicular to the spindle circumference, an edge 34 extending inwardly toward the discharge end at an acute angle from the extremity of its edge 33, and an edge 35 extending inwardly toward the entry end at an obtuse angle from the extremity of its edge 34. The intersections of edges 33, 34 and 35 are rounded and the edges are ground to a smooth finish. The lengths of each edge 34 and 35 approximately equal the width of the wider sides of pipe P. The spacing between fins 31 is a little greater than the width of the narrower sides of the pipe. Each small fin 32 is shaped as a right triangle, and has a edge 36 extending outwardly perpendicular to the spindle circumference and an edge 37 extending inwardly toward the discharge end at an acute angle from the extremity of its edge 36. The small fins are located opposite the spaces between the large fins, and the spacing between small fins is a little greater than the width of the wider sides of the pipe.

In operation, the conveyor rolls 15 and kickout rolls 16 feed pipes P to plate 17, and the screws 10 and Ella pick up these pipes and propel them along the skids 13 in the usual manner. Initially a pipe of rectangular cross section lies with one of its wider sides resting on the skids, as FIGURE 4 shows. As the spindles 21 rotate, the inwardly extending edge 34 of the first large fin 31 of each tumbling device engages the wider side and tilts the pipe upwardly, as FIGURE 5 shows. On continued rotation of the spindles, the pipe drops into the space between the first and second large fins and rests on one of its narrower sides, as FIGURE 6 shows. Next the inwardly extending edge 37 of the first small fin 32 of each tumbling device engages the narrower side and tilts the pipe downwardly, as FIGURE 7 shows. On continued rotation of the spindles, the pipe drops into the space between the first and second small fins and rests on its other wider side, as FIGURE 8 shows. This action continues while the pipe travels the full length of the skids. Thus the pipe rotates and cools uniformly without warping.

From the foreoing description it is seen that my invention affords a simple device which can be installed readily on existing transfer tables to adapt them for handling pipes or other articles of rectangular cross section. A table thus equipped assures that rectangular aricles rotate as they move therealong, and thus cool without warping.

While I have shown only a single embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a screw-type transfer table which includes a plurality of spaced-apart parallel screws, drive means operatively connected with said screws for rotating them, a plurality of skids fixed between said screws, and means for feeding to one end of said screws elongated articles of rectangular cross section having wider and narrower sides, whereby rotation of said screws propels the articles along said skids, the combination therewith of a tumbling device for rotating each article as it travels along the skids, said device comprising a rotatable spindle mounted in parallel relation to said screws and operatively connected with said drive means, a row of relatively large spaced-apart fins fixed to said spindle, and a row of smaller spaced apart fins fixed to said spindle diametrically opposite said first-named row, said smaller fins being located opposite spaces between said larger fins, said larger fins being shaped to engage the article when a wider side rests on said skids and turn the article to a position in which a narrower side rests thereon, said smaller fins being shaped to engage the article for the opposite turning action, thus continually rotating the article.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which each of said larger fins is shaped as a quadrilateral and has an edge extending outwardly perpendicular to the circumference of said spindle, an edge extending inwardly at an acute angle from the extremity of the first-named edge, and an edge extending inwardly at an obtuse angle from the extremity of the second-named edge.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which each of said smaller fins is shaped as a right triangle and has an edge extending outwardly perpendicular to the circumference of said spindle, and an edge extending inwardly from the extremity of the first-named edge.

4. In a screw-type transfer table which includes a plurality of spaced-apart parallel screws, drive means operatively connected with said screws for rotating them, a plurality of skids fixed betwen said screws, and means for feeding to one end of said screws elongated articles of rectangular cross section having wider and narrower sides, whereby rotation of said screws propels the articles along said skids, the combination therewith of a plurality of tumbling devices for rotating each article as it travels along the skids, each of said devices comprising a rotatable spindle, bearing means supporting said spindle in parallel relation to said screws, said spindle being operatively connected with said drive means, a row of relatively large spaced-apart fins fixed to said spindle, and a row of smaller spaced-apart fins fixed to said spindle diametrically opposite said first-named row, said smaller fins being located opposite spaces between said larger fins, said larger fins being shaped to engage the article when a wider side rests on said skids and turn the article to a position in which a narrower side rests thereon, said smaller fins being shaped to engage the article for the opposite turning action, thus continually rotating the article.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said bearing means and said spindles are removable to enable the table to be used for articles of other cross section which rotate without the tumbling devices.

6. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said bearing means includes a removable support and a pair of rollers journalled in said support, and in which said spindle rests on said rollers, the fins being omitted from the portion of the spindle which engages the rollers.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6 in which the rollers and omitted fins for one spindle are offset from the rollers and omitted fins of the next adjacent spindle.

8. A tumbling device comprising an elongated spindle, a row of relatively large spaced-apart fins fixed to said spindle, and a row of smaller spaced-apart fins fixed to said spindle diametrically opposite said first-named row, said smaller fins being located opposite spaces between said larger fins, each of said larger fins being shaped as a quadrilateral having an edge extending outwardly perpendicular to the circumference of said spindle, an edge extending inwardly at an acute angle from the first-named edge, and an edge extending inwardly at an obtuse angle from the extremity of the second-named edge, each of said smaller fins being shaped as a right triangle.

9. In a screw-type transfer table for cooling hot pipes coming from a hot mill, said table including a plurality of upwardly sloping spaced-apart parallel screws, drive means operatively connected with said screws for rotating them, a plurality of upwardly sloping skids fixed between said screws, and means for feeding to the lower end of said screws pipes of rectangular cross section having wider and narrower sides, whereby rotation of said screws propels the pipes along the skids, the combination therewith of a plurality of tumbling devices for rotating each pipe as it travels along the skids, each of said devices comprising a rotatable spindle, bearing means supporting said spindle in parallel relation to said screws, said spindle being operatively connected with said drive means, a row of relatively large spaced-apart fins fixed to said spindle, and a row of smaller spaced apart fins fixed to said spindle diametrically opposite said first-named row, said smaller fins being located opposite spaces between said larger fins, said larger fins being shaped to engage the pipe when a wider side rests on said skids and turn the pipe to a position in which a narrower side rests thereon, said smaller fins being shaped to engage the pipe for the opposite turning action, thus continual-1y rotating the pipe to enable it to cool uniformly without warping.

10. A screw-type transfer table comprising a plurality of spaced-apart parallel screws, a plurality of skids fixed between said screws, said screws being adapted to propel an article along said skids, at least one tumbling device journalled between said screws for rotating an article of 15 rectangular cross section as it travels along said skids, and drive means operatively connected with said screws and tumbling device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 849,122 George Apr. 2, 1907 959,813 Stevens May 31, 1910 1,217,919 Coryell Mar. 6, 1917 2,447,223 Westerholm Aug. 17, 1948 2,983,498 MacGregor May 9, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 973,875 Germany July 7, 1960 26,289 Great Britain Nov. 20, 1906 

10. A SCREW-TYPE TRANSFER TABLE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPACED-APART PARALLEL SCREWS, A PLURALITY OF SKIDS FIXED BETWEEN SAID SCREWS, SAID SCREWS BEING ADAPTED TO PROPEL AN ARTICLE ALONG SAID SKIDS, AT LEAST ONE TUMBLING DEVICE JOURNALLED BETWEEN SAID SCREWS FOR ROTATING AN ARTICLE OF RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION AS IT TRAVELS ALONG SAID SKIDS, AND 